Title IX: Katie Smith
1/10/2023 10:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball, Title IX
When fans think of Ohio State women's basketball, they typically first think of Katie Smith ('96) as she raised the standard for the program during her time as a Buckeye and went on to earn three gold medals as a member of Team USA in the 2000, 2004 and 2008 Olympics. Smith was inducted into the OSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2001 in her first year of eligibility – a first among Buckeye women's basketball players. Her No. 30 jersey was retired in January 2001.
During her time at Ohio State, Smith created a name for herself beginning her freshman year and wrapped up her collegiate career as one of the best players in the history of Big Ten women's basketball. In 1992-93, Smith led the Buckeyes to a Big Ten Championship and then became the first Big Ten women's basketball team to make an appearance in the NCAA Championship game. Smith became the first freshman since Cheryl Miller to be honored as a Kodak All-American First Team member after also being named National Freshman of the Year and Big Ten Freshman of the Year.
Smith was the second player in program history to earn Kodak All-America honors twice in her career, doing so again her senior year. Smith earned All-Big Ten First Team honors three-consecutive seasons, capping her collegiate career as the 1996 Big Ten Player of the Year and the Chicago Tribune Silver Basketball recipient.
Smith scored 2,578 points as a Buckeye, holding the program's all-time leading scorer title for more than a decade and currently sits third. Her career point total led the Big Ten until 2004. At the time of graduation, Smith also held the program career records for field goals made (826), three-pointers made (218), three-pointers attempted (564), three-point percentage (.387), free throws made (708), free throws attempted (845) and free throw percentage (.838) and the season record for points scored (745 during her senior season).
She led the Buckeyes in scoring all four years in the scarlet & gray, three times averaging more than 20 points per game. Smith became the youngest collegiate player to score 1,000 career points at the age of 19 years and eight months (during her sophomore season).
Not only did Smith excel on the court, but she was also an outstanding student. Smith was a four-time OSU Scholar Athlete, three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection and the recipient of various scholarships, including a distinguished NCAA postgraduate scholarship.
Following her time at Ohio State, Smith was also a member of the 1998 and 2002 world championship team and was on the senior national team five times. Smith's WNBA showing was no less impressive as she capped her WNBA career in 2013, leaving the league as the all-time leading scorer in women's professional basketball history. In 2008, Smith led the Detroit Shock to the WNBA title and was named Finals MVP after averaging 20.6 points per game in the three-game sweep.
